Nikkels Are Safe Following Major Earthquake

Thanks to so many people who have inquired about the safety of Jared & Stacey following the devastating news of a major earthquake today in and around Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, which is 50-60 miles from Pignon. We are thankful to report that Jared, Stacey, Will & Natalie are safe as well as Stacey's parents who are currently visiting. Although they felt the quake in Pignon, no significant damage was reported there. All phone communications are down right now so we cannot get in touch with Jared & Stacey so far, but we have been able to receive news via email from some doctors and other missionaries in the Pignon area that confirm that everyone is safe. Here are some email excerpts with more information:

From Kristie & JeanJean Mompremier, missionaries who live 5-6 miles from Jared & Stacey:

Yes, we definitely felt the earthquake that hit Haiti. We are 85km from Port-au-Prince where they reported a 7.0 quake but we felt the first quake and the 2nd aftershock. It was crazy--we were outside by our Ford pickup. It was rocking up and down and the springs were making a lot of noise. We thought someone was horsing around and jumping on it! The girls were on a rock bench that surrounds our huge tree with all their friends. The whole rock bench starting swaying. My house had some vases of flowers and pictures fall down. We are all just fine. We are just very anxious about our family and friends in Port. JeanJean has heard from one brother but can't get a hold of 3 of his sisters/sister-in-law who live in Port. They say the national palace and cathedral are wrecked. There are reports that many have died. Our phones aren't working. Only one radio station is broadcasting. I can't imagine what things are like down in Port. Keep praying!

Kristie and JeanJean

From Bev Brand:

We have not heard from Jared and Stacey but just received an e-mail from Dr. Batsch at the hospital in Pignon and he said everyone was ok. He did not elaborate but did ask for prayers for Haiti.

Below is the message from Dr. Batsch:
Thanks for your support and prayers. Thanks to God everybody is OK in Pignon (Fargo Team members and the Hospital staff).Thank you...
JEAN - JUMEAU Batsch,MD

Please keep praying.

On a side note: Denny Brand was on his way to Haiti and is in Florida – American Airlines has cancelled all flights into Haiti – he was to fly in tomorrow for the Promise for Haiti Board meeting. So he will be spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale and flying back to Pella hopefully tomorrow.

I’m not sure what all this means but I think it is significant that we are in the 40 days of prayer for Haiti. We can see the destruction, but what we can’t see is what is going on in the heavenlies. 1 Cor. 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” There is something going on here that is much bigger than we can understand. Keep praying!!!

Another update: Karen Carr from the Virginia CCH group just let Tim Brand know that she has talked to Dr. Batsch and that they were reporting no major damage in Pignon but they definitely felt the tremors. Dr. Batsch’s family lives in Port-au-Prince (wife and children) so he is quite concerned for them and has not been able to get information. Please pray for their safety and also the safety of four children that are in the process of being adopted by two families at Third, the Fullers and the VanderHoffs…….their children are in an orphanage in Port au Prince.

Bev Brand

There are many ways to pray right now. I'm so thankful that the Nikkels are safe, but the reality is that many, many people in Haiti are not. This is devastating. Please be in prayer:

• For Dr. Batsch's family in Port-au-Prince
• For Kristie & JeanJean Mompremier's family in Port-au-Prince
• For the Fullers' & VanderHoffs' children in Port-au-Prince and all the children in their orphanage
• For those injured or grieving loss of loved ones
• For the government in handling this tragedy
• For many people, already impoverished, who have been left with nothing.

Thanks so much for your support and prayers!

Join us in praying for the hospital!

40 Days of Prayer for Hospital Bienfaisance of Pignon

From December 9, 2009, to January 18, 2010, we would like to focus on praying for the hospital in Pignon. The hospital is vital to the northern plateau region of Haiti serving several communities and roughly 140,000 people. The last year has been a hard year for the hospital. The Comite de Bienfaisance, the Promise for Haiti Board, the administration, staff and Dr. Guy have many difficult decisions to make in the coming year. On January 15, 2010, there is a combined board meeting with both the Haitian and American board members. We need to ask God to be near us and guide us and to return to us and to restore the Hospital de Bienfaisance to what it once was in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope.

We would like to invite anyone who is willing to participate in focused prayer for the hospital, the region and the people of Haiti for these 40 days. Local pastors and Christians around the area have also been invited to pray with us at the hospital each morning, and we are anticipating a positive response from the community.

We are asking that you pray for:

• The administration and leadership of the hospital and all personnel
• That the power and presence of the Holy Spirit would come upon the hospital in new and amazing ways
• The healing of patients
• Dr. Guy-protection and health during his political campaign
• The hospital board both locally in Pignon and stateside for wisdom, discernment and guidance
• For all the students in the area, particularly those sponsored through the HELP scholarship program
• The organizations that partner with the hospital through short-term missions including medical missions, work projects and financial assistance
• Release from the oppression of the enemy and the influences of Voodoo
• That staff, patients and families of patients know fully the love of Christ
• The future of the hospital and the country of Haiti


A few scriptures are provided for each 10-day period, and of course we want you to pray as the Spirit leads, these are just some of the things on our hearts.


Days 1-10

Zechariah 1:3
3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica


Psalm 50:15
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

James 4:7-8
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Psalm 33:18
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica


Days 11-20

Matthew 6:33-34
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Psalm 105:3-5
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
5 Remember the wonders he has done,

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Proverbs 8:17
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Luke 18:7-8
7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica


Days 21-30
Isaiah 55:6
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica



Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Ephesians 1:16-21
16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Psalm 113:7
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica






Proverbs 31:8-9
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica



Days 31-40

Ephesians 6:7-8
7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

1 Peter 4:7-10
7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

James 2:5
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

1 Thessalonians 2:19
19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

James 1:2-6

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Home Sweet Home!

Our New Home

Finally! It is with great joy and relief that I can say we are in our house! For us it has been a long time coming and we are thrilled to have a place to officially call home. We have been very busy over the last couple of months with teams from the D.C. area, Virginia, Missouri, Iowa and new friends from Indiana and Ohio. It has been so much fun getting to meet different people from all over the U. S. and getting to see old friends from home.

Groups have been very busy this fall! One group in particular is responsible for where we find ourselves tonight, in our own home with power 24/7. (Ok, so there is a little problem with our inverter system, but we should have a solution to it within the next week. The inverter is what allows us to have power all the time.) In one week in early November this group of men and women made all the screens for our house, which was an absolute must for me to move in, finished most of the tiling, finished nearly all of the painting, finished enough plumbing for a working toilet and sinks, built bookshelves, a table, shelves in the kitchen and hung kitchen cabinets! Oh yes, and I can’t forget to mention that they painted nearly all the gates for our windows and doors with very little complaining. It was a shame that they didn’t get to be the ones to move us in! But, we know they are happy just to know we are living here now. Having our house finished really put the “thanks” in Thanksgiving!

Another blessing to us was the arrival of some family. Two of Jared’s sisters, Beth and Tiffany, and Tiff’s husband Steve were here a couple of weeks ago. They had the honor of helping us move in on November 16. I told them I feel guilty because of the number of times they have helped us move. I was fully expecting to be in the house long before they got here. As with everything in Haiti, it is a slow process. It was great to have them here and the kids couldn’t get enough of their aunts. I am sure if it had been an option they would have easily let themselves be packed away in suitcases. But, as it is said, all good things come to an end. Seeing them off has been one of the hardest things we’ve had to do.

A Family Photo before saying goodbye at the Pignon Airport

Speaking of Thanksgiving and blessings, I am sure some of you are curious as to how we spent the holiday last week. I have to admit I was surprised by how much I am missing the holiday season in Iowa. We were invited along with other Americans from the area to a barbeque for Thanksgiving dinner. It was so awesome to us! There was a feast laid before us like nothing I’ve seen before. We had turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad, cooked veggies, BBQ pork, corn and mac, fresh bread, rolls, brownies, pies, ice cream and, lest I forget, Krispy Kreme donuts! I can tell you this much: it took a lot of planning to get some of those things here to Pignon.

The weather here is still very warm, and we spend much of our days sweating it out, literally. We are still in shorts (or skirts) and t-shirts and can’t even begin to sing songs like “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas!” Jared got his guitar out the other day and was playing Jingle Bells until he realized it was a totally absurd song for Haiti. I also don’t anticipate that we’ll be roasting any chestnuts over an open fire either. I did manage to get out our Christmas CD’s, but it still doesn’t sink in that Christmas is only three weeks from Friday!

I am attempting to get my holiday shopping done via internet, and I am getting somewhat annoyed. This is the first year I haven’t participated in at least some form of Black Friday shopping in years. So I am cyber-shopping, and I stink at it about as much as store shopping. I tried twice to get the Amazon.com lightning deals, and both times my connection was so slow that by the time I got to checkout I lost the deal! I took that as a sign that I am supposed to give up and shop a lot less for this year’s gifts. Fortunately our kids don’t have any major requests! Besides, I think between grandparents and aunts and uncles the kids will not suffer at all. Did I mention Grandma and Grandpa Nikkel are coming in just over a week?

More to come….sooner than last time, I promise!

Journey to Haiti Event

Bring the whole family for an evening of the sights and sounds of Haiti!

Sunday, November 1

5:00-7:00 pm

Vermeer Global Pavilion, Pella, IA

Want to try carrying buckets on your heads, learn about noisy animals or talk to a family who lives in a different country? Then we hope your family will join us for Journey to Haiti, a fun family event for all ages organized by Many Hands for Haiti.

We're planning a fun evening for all ages! But we want you to learn something too! We want to reconnect you with the mission and purpose of Many Hands and teach you what it's like to live in a country like Haiti--but we'll do it in a unique, hands-on way. After a brief update on how God is working through Many Hands, we’ll check in with the Nikkel family in Pignon, Haiti, via video call. Get your questions ready because we're going to ask them all about life in Haiti!

After the Nikkels tell us about Haiti, we're going to do some fun activities that will help us experience life in Haiti. We'll have several stations for families to travel through, including...

• Pics & Prayer: At this station you can write a note of encouragement or prayer for the Nikkel family, or get your creative juices flowing and "Pray in Color" or create a piece of art for someone in the Nikkel family. (I know Will & Natalie would love some artwork for their new rooms that will hopefully be finished soon!)
• Games Galore: We'll have an obstacle course to show you some of the things they do in Haiti, a picture guessing game of some unique Haitian sites, and a food-testing station to try some of what they might eat in Haiti. We'll also have some laptops that will allow you to explore life in some Third World countries.

And here are a few details that may help families...

• Some great snacks will be provided to get you through that dinner hour! (And not just the Haitian taste-testing food...) :)
• A supervised child play area will be available, especially for smaller children, throughout the evening.
• Many Hands t-shirts will be available for $10 in children and adult sizes.
• All ages are welcome! Adults will have fun and learn a lot too!

Schedule of Events

Here is a tentative schedule of events for the evening. It is not an "open house." We will begin at 5:00 pm with some brief info and the call to the Nikkels. The evening will end with the freedom to visit the stations, mingle and snack at your leisure, so there will not be a formal closing time.

(Schedule is subject to change...never know how a Haiti to Iowa Skype connection will be!)

5:00-5:25: Welcome & Update on Many Hands for Haiti

5:25-5:40: Phone Pignon (Get your questions ready for the Nikkels!)

5:40-5:50: Explanation of Activity Stations

5:50-7:00: Explore the stations, get snacks and have fun learning about the Third World!

Thank you so much for your continued support for Many Hands for Haiti! We hope you'll join us as we continue to learn about God’s love for those in poverty. Please feel free to contact me, Beth Gaulke, at 621-1628 or bgaulke@trcpella.com with questions.

An Update from Pignon

Wow, I had no idea it had been so long since I updated the blog! So many things have been going on here and we’re just now getting into a busy part of the year. Starting today we will have a group here every week until November 19th. It will keep us hopping for sure. We are really looking forward to the next couple of months, having teams around to work with, talk to and hang out with.

I am surprised by how lonely we feel sometimes. It has been challenging living in a culture so different from our own. One of the best things to happen is that Will and Natalie are becoming the best of friends. I suppose when you are the only English speaking, Caucasian kids around, you cling to each other. It’s not that they don’t get along with kids here and have a few friends, it’s just a different kind of friendship. They are beginning to realize they can really trust each other and that they need each other.

Natalie has been battling these freak infections from some kind of bug bite that goes from a simple bite to a full blown abscess. They are incredibly painful and get red, hot and swollen. We have found the only way to get rid of them is with antibiotics. Of course everyone knows too much is just too much. Anyway, she was crying one night because it was hurting so bad and Will felt so much empathy for her he started crying too. (He will probably kill me someday for writing it down!) He even told her how much he loved her and that she was so tough! It’s not like they don’t fight anymore, because they do. Believe me. But something has changed in the way they respect each other. It is good.

Jared and I too are finding we are growing closer as the days go by. Hey it isn’t every husband and wife that can do construction projects together and live to tell about it. It’s funny because the things we would have argued about in the states don’t even apply here. Like which tile to buy or what color to paint. We are very limited and I am finding the fewer choices I have the better. Speaking of paint, we finally got our paint problems worked out. We are well on our way to having the interior totally painted! Yea!

We made our first road trip to Port-au-Prince recently. The first 30 Km (19 miles) took about 2 hours with the entire trip (130 Km or 80 miles) taking roughly 4 ½. The road is very rocky and in the low spots very muddy. We came to a huge mud hole and debated if it was passable. Jared and I agreed if we were in the states there is no way we would even attempt to drive through. But, we are in Haiti and we did as the Haitians do, we went for it. Jared tried to get on a high spot, but we immediately slid to the left and got high centered. After some skillful rocking of the truck on Jared’s part, he was able to get backed up and we found enough traction to get onto a higher spot. The whole time the kids and I were silent, in awe of the scene unfolding. We still weren’t sure we were going to get through, but Jared persevered and we came out on the other side. We also knew there was no turning back because we were not going through that again. It didn’t matter that we would have to come back a few days later.

That wasn’t the end of our road adventure. Shortly after going through the mud hole of death, we came down a hill to cross over a stream and found a large “tap-tap” stuck, sideways, in the middle of the next climb. We took a position in the shade along with four or five other trucks and waited to see what the driver would do and if they would get it moved. There were only two options. To get it going, or to let it roll back into the stream and without a doubt on it’s side. Several people were on the truck along with cases of glass pop bottles and an assortment of other stuff. The passengers got off, some walked away, but others helped the driver get a path made for smaller trucks to squeeze by. That of course included us. We all waited in suspense as one beat up white Toyota attempted the climb. He made it through and we were tired of waiting so Jared gave it a shot. I thought for sure we were going to lose a mirror or get our first major dent, but we squeezed through unharmed.

We finally got to the city of Hinche and from there the road started to improve. Things got really exciting when we saw a sign at the side of the road written in French, basically saying “road work ahead.” We were hesitant to believe it, but were soon driving through “construction zones.” The road crews had heavy equipment; dozers, rock trucks, cement trucks and road graders. But there were also hundreds of men mixing cement by hand, and creating rock channels along the road for water runoff. PROGRESS! It was a great thing to see. The closer we got to Port the better the road got until it was all smooth concrete. Jared even got the truck up to 60 mile per hour. I didn’t even know there were places in Haiti to drive that fast, safely.

Once we arrived in Port-au-Prince we drove around for an hour trying to find the entrance to our hotel. It wasn’t very well marked and we ended up driving by it twice before we finally got good directions from a woman on the street. There we police stationed on the road going to the hotel and police in front of the hotel. We were happy to see such a large law enforcement presence in the city.

Our hotel was beautiful and had everything we needed, a big pool, satellite TV with US channels, and my personal favorite air conditioning! The food was great and nobody got sick. The kids and I spent the days swimming and Jared spent the days running all over Port with our friend Gevy, trying to get the things we needed. He did discover a couple of great places to shop for groceries and Ecko Depot, Haiti’s Home Depot. The Caribbean Super Market was the kids favorite find. We walked in and it felt and looked just like a US supermarket. We found all kinds of food, health and beauty stuff and toys. It was great, and I am sure it will be one of our “must” stops when we are in Port.

We had only planned to stay for two nights, but with everything in Haiti, you must be flexible. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get all the things done that we needed to, so we kept our room for another night. By then the kids were getting a little too comfortable and Will even asked if we could just live there all the time. After all, he had everything he needed a pool, A/C and the Discovery channel, which we let him stay up and watch. Natalie’s favorite thing by far was the super hot shower. She spent half an hour after every swim, “getting the pool water off.” We will for sure be making the trip again in the near future, just to relax a little.

A Wish List

Several people have asked me about things that the Nikkels could use, so I finally got Stacey to send a list! She doesn't like asking people for things, which I think we can all understand, but I know they would be blessed by these things, or even just by your thoughts and encouragement in a card or letter. You can find the address on the right side of the blog.

Here are a few prayer needs as well:

• Pray that God continues to reveal their role in Haiti as they continue to adjust to life there.
• Pray for Stacey and the kids as they have begun their home school journey. Pray for patience and excitement.
• Pray for the quick completion of their house and for workers to come alongside Jared to help with electrical and plumbing.
• Pray that they will feel God's presence in powerful ways and be encouraged.
• Thank God for their safety, an overall smooth transition, and the support they have in their friends, family and the Many Hands for Haiti board.

Wish List

• AA batteries (non-rechargeable)
• AAA batteries (non-rechargeable)
• notebooks
• coloring books & crayons
• pens & pencils
• ibuprofen
• tylenol PM
• benedryl (generic allegry med)
• adult hair bands (non-metal)
• granola bars
• goldfish crackers
• muffin mixes (add water kind)
• pepperoni
• summer sausage

Thank you for your continued support!

Beth

First Days of School, Paint Surprises and More!

September 2, 2009

It is so hard to believe August is gone already! We started school last week even though I forgot to order some very necessary parts of our curriculum. It is definitely a learning experience for me. I am praying we will enjoy the home school experience, and the kids need something to focus on other than lizards, machetes and imaginary horses. I guess we are getting somewhere though because Natalie told me in the market today that we use “currency” to buy things and that in Haiti we use goudes. Will, on the other hand, keeps telling me how much he forgot over the summer. :)

We recently added another new member to our family, and this time she is really alive. Our friends, the Mompremiers, are heading back in the states and asked if we would be interested in taking care of one of their cats. She is a sweet young kitty named Pumpkin, and the kids love having her here. We also found out she is an expert gecko hunter and will probably be a great mouser as well. I guess we will see if she sticks it out here because the kids have a hard time letting her be. Hopefully it will teach our kids a lesson about being responsible for a pet. Will has been faithful, after much prompting, to empty her litter box each day. So far we have only been able to get our hands on cardboard boxes and are waiting to get to the big city to find a plastic litter box.

I find it almost comical when we need to pick something up from the “boutique” or make a run to the market for the simplest of things. Today I needed to pick up some eggs, peanut butter, crackers, canned peas and corn, napkins and if possible some canned meat other than Spam. We ended up going to three different shops and didn’t find any eggs or canned meat other than Spam. I have also noticed that lately we can’t even find real Spam--and believe me, there is a difference, be it ever so little. Eggs haven’t been too hard to find until recently, and they are pretty pricey, costing us around $6.00 for 2 ½ dozen. The problem with eggs is that you really take a gamble whether or not they will even be good. So far we haven’t gotten too sick and we’ve eaten quite a few questionable eggs!

We are slowly making progress on our house and have two rooms tiled, the water tank perched on top of the roof and full of water. Jared was very grateful that we didn’t end up having any leaks in the tank. He has been running pipes for plumbing and electricity, but as with most things here, it is never simple. We ran out of the right PVC pipe for the plumbing, and it’s not like we can just run to Menard’s or Lowe’s. So we are at a standstill with that until after our trip to Port (Port-au-Prince).

For those of you who love to hear a bad paint job story, this will provide a laugh (or a tear in my case!). A few weeks ago we started the interior painting, supposedly it was cream colored, but actually is a lovely, but overpowering, shade of yellow. We finally decided it would make a good primer coat and are going to shoot for a light brown/tan for the final product. Anyway, most of the interior walls and ceilings were done with the exception of one bedroom and the bathroom that has no light yet. Recently we started to notice sticky patches here and there and realized the concrete had not dried out completely before we started. A few days ago after a storm went through it was even worse. Jared decided to spray the walls with water to see if it would just slide off and it did. Most of the walls gave up the bottom half and in some places more. Honestly though it could have been much worse. At this point the floor is still mostly concrete, and we are a long way from moving stuff in so nothing is lost except a few gallons of paint and some sweat (and tears!).

We are hoping to be ready to move in before more teams arrive at the end of this month. There is a lot of work to do and school has the kids and I busy in the mornings, so we are praying for lots of energy, good power and good weather. In the end it will be what it will be! If I am not mistaken, it also seems like the days are getting shorter much faster than back home. The sun is usually setting before 6:30, which is too early for me! Hopefully we will be done with electrical work soon and will be able to work in the evening in our house.

The last week has been pretty tolerable as far as weather goes. The afternoons can still get pretty hot, but generally there is a good breeze in the afternoon and the cooler air sets in. There have been some pretty loud and heavy thunderstorms roll through the past few nights and even Jared complained he was getting “chilly!” The kids and I have had to cover up with sheets and light blankets recently, and I thought for sure it was in the low 60’s this morning when we woke up. Imagine the laugh we got when it turned out to be 75 degrees in the house. We are obviously adjusting to the climate, and I am starting to wonder if the clothes we brought for “winter” will be warm enough! I guess we will see about that too….